In the subtile human anatomy experienced by Yogi, and more specifically for tantrism, there are seven main "energetic points", called chakra within the body. There are :
Mûlâdhâra chakra,
at the base of the spinal column, near the anus (perineum)
Svâdishthâna chakra, located a little above the latter
Manipûra chakra, on a level with the gastric plexus
Anâhata chakra, on a level with the heart plexus
Vishuddhi chakra, on a level with the throat
Ajñâ chakra, behind the head, on a level with the forehead
Sahasrâra chakra, the Thousand Petals Lotus, above the
head top
This famous king gave a decisive impulse to the realm development; he first attacked the north Vakataka kingdom and vanquished them. A little further, the king Pulakeshin 2nd (610-642) continued this policy of expansion, fighting with the south Kadamba, the Ganga and the Pallava. He also succeeded to northern regions, up to the present Bombay (Mumbay) city. There, he was opposed to Harsha, king of Kanauj.
Therefore this empire occupied a very vast area, from the western to the eastern coast, including the present Maharashtra.
But the Chalukya suffered a bad defeat in 642 with the invasion of the neighbouring Pallava, leaded by their king Narasimhavarman, who invaded the southern Pandya realm at the same time. Vatapi was then occupied till 655. Vikramaditya 1st (655-681), the son and successor of Pulakeshin II, thrust away the Pallava, and even invaded their capital Kanchipuram. However, another Pallava defeat in 731 could not stop the Chalukya decline.
Indeed, they were evicted by the Rashtrakuta from Maharashtra, their vassals up to that time. Another Chalukya dynasty appeared on the political scene two centuries later, but it was centred in Maharashtra, with Kalyani as a capital.
Monuments in Aihole, Badami and Pattadakal (Karnataka) are typical of the Chalukyan architecture. This style was widely copied in other adjacent regions. One can cite other Chalukyan locations in Mahakuta and Alampur (AP). The Pallava influence is also obvious in some of these monuments
This dynasty started to really grow when it conquered Tanjore (Tanjavur) circa 850. For two centuries, it stretched its empire over south India, ruining the Pallava. The king Rajaraja (985-1014) overcomes a temporary union against him of the Pandya and kings of Kerala and Ceylon. However, he does not succeed to annex the Kerala. His son Rajendra 1st carries on the expansion to north, reaches the Ganges shores and even foreign asian countries.
Chidambaram, previously a major place for Shiva devotees under the Pallava, becomes one of the Chola capitals from 907 to 1310. After the year 1000, the influence of the Chola empire is quickly increasing. Its power reaches a climax between 1070 and 1150. The builder kings (Rajaraja II and his successors) establish their capital in Tanjore (Tanjavur); they dedicate to Shiva's glory several huge temples (Brihadeshvara in Tanjore, Gangaikondacholeshvara in Gangaikondacholapuram, Airavateshvara in Darasuram are the most famous) which they richly endow.
During the 12th century, the Chola realm starts to be dismantled because of attacks from outside. After half a century of hard fightings with all their neighbours, Pallava, Hoysala, Pandya, the latter win a decisive battle and take the power. This victory does not last long, since the Pandya, in their turn, are ousted by the muslim warriors of Malik Kafur (1302-1311). Then, the Vijayanagar will conquer and occupy Chidambaram between 1364 and 1378
